The New Résumé Rules

Résumé rules are as confusing as deciding what the appropriate attire for the office should be. The right résumé is unique to the job candidate, the industry and the office environment. No two jobs are exactly alike and the way you sell yourself on paper for each job should also be unique. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few universal rules that you can apply to nearly every situation.

Here are some new résumé rules to consider following:

Print a hard copy. It’s likely that you sent an electronic copy of your résumé and all the info you have on LinkedIn to a prospective employer, but paper still matters when it comes to the in-person interview. Printing it out shows that you’ve made an effort and allows you to physically point out certain accomplishments.

Get graphic. If you are applying for a job in a creative field, a black and white résumé will not stand out. Consider incorporating charts, graphs and other visuals to highlight your best work. A chart can highlight the information far more impressively than a sentence can. Another highlight of a highly visual résumé means that you can convey information in less space than it will take to write it out.

It used to be that jobseekers were terrified to have any gaps in their employment history. However due to the economy and the rise of freelance and short-term contracts a gap of a few months won’t raise eyebrows. Don’t sweat the employment gaps you might have on your résumé, and instead, find ways to express your ongoing experience honing your hard skills.

Your Twitter handle, your LinkedIn profile information, and even your Pinterest are all fair game to put in the header section of your résumé, depending on the job you’re going for. You are likely going to be Googled by a prospective employer so it’s good to have the information you want the hiring manager to see up front. Make sure any social media pages you put on your résumé are current.